Cover and can handling device



s sheets-'sheet 1 W. S.V CAMPBELL COVER AND CAN HANDLING- DEVICE .origigial Filed Nov. 1s. 1940 98786 o 82 65.64 a fos June 20, 1944. w, s, CAMPBELL 2,351,806 COVER AND GAN HANDLING DEvIcN?l Original Filed Nov. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fav-47M yf MyW/ wy June 20,1944.

w. s. CAMPBELL D COVER AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE original Filed Nov.' 13 i940 s sheets-sheer s Patented `lune 20, 1944 CVER AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE Willard S. Campbell, Hampshire, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application vNovember 13, 1940, Serial No. 365,435. Divided and this application February 18,1941, Serial No. 379,450

(Cl. 2li-84) 5 Claims.

This is a divisional application of the original application, Serial No; 365,435 led in the United States Patent Office on November 13, 1940, issued June 2, 1942 as Patent No. 2,285,187, for Cover and can handling device.

My invention relates to a construction for prop,- erly timing the receiving, passing through and discharging of a can and itsl cover. V

Among the objects of my invention is to Aprovide a construction which receives a can and its cover, passes them through the machine one above the other and discharges them together. This prevents confusing covers with cans with which they do not belong and insures thatthe can will receive its cover and no other cover. This is extremely important where cans and covers of many different concerns are involved.

My construction provides a single cover for each can anda single can for each cover, and prevents a situation where there would be several cans for each cover `or several 'covers for each can.

In my construction the cover proceedsv from the entrance through the greater portion ofthe machine in vertical position and then assumes a horizontal position adjacent the exit so as to be dropped onto the can. Means is provided so that the covers are firmly positioned on the cans when they are discharged, thereby pre'- venting exposure of thefinteriors of the covers and cans to bacteria and contamination fro the atmosphere..

My construction is simple land eliminates com;- plicated machinery. It operates more silently, avoiding all unnecessary noise` Those portions ofthe construction that receive and discharge the covers are can operated-that is tosay, the cover movements are initiated and controlled by themovements of the cans in the can handling portion of the construction.

My construction involves such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed `by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawingsa preferred form of my invention, yet I desire it understood that the same is susceptible of modication and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a diagram- Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the stop lever mechanism on the upper level; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the rack. y

The embodiment -selected to' illustrate my in vention is :ordinarily associated with a straightaway washer, sterilizer and drier, but I am primarily concerned with the entrance, passage and discharge of cansancl covers-and not` with their treatment. during the passage..

Said embodiment comprises Va frame I@ with spaced side walls II forming an interior I2"with anopen entrance I3 andan open exit I4 to re.- spectivelyv receive and discharge-.the cans and covers. A support or track I5l attached tothe frame I'Il is provided in the lower` portion Vor level and extends substantially the length of'v the interior I2. Another support or track I6 attached tothe frame I8 is providedin the upper portion or level above the support I5 and extends sub1- stantially the length of theinterior'of the ycan washer. The cansare receivecL, carried through and discharged on the lower level and the covers on theupper level. l y

Adjacent the entranceV I3 at the lowerlevel,

Ybearings I1 are attached to side wallsr Il. AA rotatable shaft I8 extends between the bearings Il.

Spaced sprockets I 9 are mounted on shaft I8. Spaced main chains 20 engage sprockets I9 and turn shaft I8. The main chains 20 extend through the interior I2 of the machine on the lower leveltrack I5 to sprockets 2l attacheldto shaft 22 rotatable in bearings `23 in bracket 24 which is attached to frame I0. Attached to and drivingv the shaft 22 is a pulley 25 driven in turn by a belt 26 connected to and driven by a suitable source Vof power, such as a motor or turbine.'

Also mounted on shaft I3 and to one side of sprockets I9 is drive sprocket 2l. Positioned ahead of bearings Il and'in the side walls II'is another pair of spaced vbearings 28 to rotatably receive another shaft Z9. Chain 30 extends between drive sprocket Z'I and driven sprocket 3| mounted on shaftZS, Drive sprocket 2l has twice as many teeth as driven sprocket 3l. Driven shaft 29 rotates twice as fast as drive shaft I8. Mounted on shaft 2.9 is sprocket 32 centrally positioned laterally with respect to spaced sprock- 69 on frame I8.

ets I9. Sprocket 32 drives chain 33 which extends toward entrance I3 to engage idler sprocket 34 which is rotatably mounted on a stud 35 which is attached to bracket 36 which is a part of platform 31. The platform 31 is hingedly attached to track I5. Mounted on chain 33 is a plurality of spaced counter-balanced lugs 38. Mounted on main chains 20 is a plurality of spaced clogs 39.`

Attached to the frame Il) and extending inwardly between shafts I8 and 29 is a support 40. A rod 4| is rotatably attached to support 49. Attached to the inner 4end of rod 4I and adjacent the outer main chains 20 is a trip lever 42 normally in upright position. Attached to the' outer end of rod 4I is another lever or arm 43. A connecting member 44 is attached on one end to arm l 43. The connecting member 44 extends upwardly and its other end is attached to one end of a short chain 45. The other end of the short chain 45 is attached to spring 46 which in turn is attached to a hook 41 which is attached to the frame I0. The tension of spring 46 holds short chain 45 in engagement with sprocket 48. This sprocket 48 is attached to shaft 49 which is rotatably attached tov bracket attached to frame I0. A lever 5| normally in upright position is attached to the shaft 49 adjacent its inner end. Another lever 52 is centrally pivoted to guide 53 which extends diagonally downwardly through entrance I3 into the upper level of the interior I2. Said lever 52 has a slot 54 in its forward portion to slidably receive pin 55 attachedv to lever 5|. When lever 5| is moved downwardly toA a horizontal position, pin 55 slides to the rear of slot 54 and pivots lever 52 from a horizontal to a vertical plane so that the rear portion 56 of lever 52 forms a stop.

The inner end of guide 53 within the upper level of interior I2 is pivotally and adjustably attached to upper track I6. An upper chain 51 travels on upper track I6 between drive sprocket 58 and idler sprocket 59. Idler sprocket 59 is attached to shaft 60 rotatable in bearings 6| attached to frame I0.

Drive sprocket 58 is attached to shaft 62 rotatable on bearings 6| attached to frame I0 and driven by gear wheel 63 through a chain 64 connected to a suitable source of power.

Also mounted von drive shaft 62 isa drive sprocket 65. A chain 66 extends between drive sprocket 65 and driven sprocket 61 attached to driven shaft 68 rotatably attached to `bearing-s Spaced sprockets are also mounted on driven shaft` 68. Spaced light chains 1I extend forwardly between sprockets 10 and idler sprockets 12 mounted on shaft 13 rotatably attached to bearings 14 supported by bracket attached to frame I0. Drive sprocket 65 has twice as many teeth` as driven sprocket 61 and light chains 1I travel twice as fast as chain 66. A track 16 attached to frame I0 is provided for light chains 1I. Track 16 extends on a downward curve through the exit I4 toward a rack 11, the inner end of which is pivotally and'adjustably attached to shaft 13 which rotates on bearings 14 attached to frame I0.

i A shaft 80 is rotatably attached to bearings 8| inthe frame I0 adjacent the top of the upper level of the interior I2. Mounted on said shaft 80 is an eccentric cam 82. A lever 83 is mounted on'shaft 84 which is rotatably attached to bearings 85 in frame I0. Fastened to shaft 84 is a positioner 86. The positioner 86 has a diagonally downwardly extending portion 81 and an ntegral vertical portion 88 to which is adjustably I attached a horizontal member 69.

Rotatably attached to frame I6 is a vertical rod 96 having a horizontal bottom portion 9|. Adjacent the top of rod 90 is a stop 92 positioned to engage stop 93 on shaft 84. A spring |62 extends between frame I0 and horizontal portion 9| of rod 99.

Shaft 89 has a sprocket 94 operated by chain 95 connected to a suitable source of power.

' VA plurality cf guide rails 96, 91 and 98 extend from the entrance I3 at the upper level along upper track I6. Guide rails 96 and 91 are positioned along the inner side of the track I6. Guide rail 98 is positioned along the opposite or outer side of the track at medium height, with l downward and inward curve 99.

guide rail 91 positioned higher than guide rail 96 and guide rail 98 positioned lower than guide rail 91. At approximately the farthest point where the track 16 and light chains 1I extend within the interior I2, guide rail 91 ends in a Guide rail 96 ends short of 91 and 93 continues to any further desired point within interior I2, and is shown as ending short of vexit I4. The guide rails are attached to frame I0 by any suitable means.

In use an operator places a can through the lower level of entrance I3 in inverted positionon platform 31. A counterbalanced lug 38 on chain 33 contacts the can on the inside'neck portion and moves it at double speed to main chains 20.

At about the same time as the operator places the can on platform 31 he places the cover in vertical position through the upper level of entrance I3 on guide 53 and the cover rolls on its edge rapidly down the inclined guide until lt contacts lever 5I which is normally in upright position. The cover remains in this position until it is released for further movement by operation of the can, as will now be fully set forth.

While the movement of the cover is stopped by lever 5| the outer back ci the neck of the can is contacted by one of the dogs 39 von main chains 20 and moved thereon. As the can moves within the interior IZ it contacts trip lever 42 which is normally in upright position and moves it to a horizontal position. This rotates rod 4| and pulls arm 43 downwardly also pulling connecting member 44, and moving short chain 45. This movement of short chain 45 moves sprocket 48, rotatable shaft 49 and nally lever 5|. The movement of lever 5I is to a horizontal plane, removing it as a stop against the cover and permitting the cover to move onto upper chain 51. When lever 5I moves to a horizontal position, second lever 52 is pivoted so that its rear portion 56 assumes a vertical position, actingas la stop to prevent any more covers from passing. Otherwise more than one cover might go through to upper chain 51 while lever 5| was in horizontal non-stopping position.

When the can passes by the lever 42 and no longer contacts the same, spring 46 moves trip lever back to normal upright position by pulling the connecting member 44 and arm 43 upwardly. Spring 46 also pulls chain 45 in the other direction, moving sprocket 48 and its rotatable shaft The cans and covers continue their progress within the interior I2, with the cans travelling monftheichainszll ofthe-lower level-track .15and wtheecove'rsl movingv above their. respective-cans on "Lchainll-lof-the upperlevel track-i 6. Ihereare Lspaceddogs' `{13S-on chain 57.

5 At -the-end'of -main chainsrl a turning device 'lelisf-providedso thatv the cans may-be turned from-inverted tofupright position. vThisturning device is set Vforth in-detail in my co-pendingap- -plication-forpatent on Turning-device-for-milk cansfand other articles, Serial No.- 353,239,5-1edl v'freaches the end-Lof guide rail 96 is-directed by curve 99 `to-fallby gravity in a -horizontaljposition ontomlight chains Il. The light chains travelling with-double speed move-the cover so that it falls into rack 11 in plenty of time for the corresponding can which is about to be deposited on platform IDI below in upright position from turning device |00. Positioner 88, when in its lower position over rack 11, prevents the cover from leaving the rack Il. As the can passes to platform IUI the can swings horizontal bottom portion 9| of vertical rod 90, and stop 92 of said rod is released from engagement with stop 93 of shaft 84, allowing lever 83 to come in contact with cam 82, thereby lowering positioner 86 against rack 11 and subsequently raising the positioner B5, thereby releasing the cover so that it falls onto the open mouth of the waiting can on platform I 0l. Further in the cycle of cam 82, lever 83 is again contacted to raise and then lower positioner 86 against the cover, pressing the cover against the can, thereby sealing it and preventing contamination. When the can has passed on or been otherwise removed from platform IDI,

spring |02 moves rod 90 to normal position with its stop 92 engaging stop 93 of the shaft 84 so that lever 83 is out of position for engagement with cam 82. Positioner 88 is then in its raised position over rack 11.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a frame having an exit opening, a platform attached to said frame beyond said exit opening, said platform adapted to support a can in upright position, a track attached to and within said frame, said track sloping downwardly through said exit opening, a power operated chain operable on said track, and a rack attached to said frame,

said chain adapted to carry a cover for the can r.,

on the platform in horizontal position and to deliver the cover to said rack, said rack positioned above said platform and adapted to place the received cover onto the open mouth of said can.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame 1 having an exit opening, a platform attached to said frame beyond said exit opening, said plat- @errandY to pressi the-g cover .,into, sealing `engage- L. ment withlthe.: can.

3::In adevicelof-theclass described, a: frame 3 -fhavingcan exit-,.opening, a'platformfattached. to

@said frame-beyond :said opening, said platform adaptedtousupport aecanzinupright position, a @movabled memberattached to and withink said frame fand. extending through said exit opening, l a receiving member'at the kouter endof said movablememben-sa'id movable,y member adapted to carry a cover for .the'can o-n ther-platform in horizontalipositioniand to deliver theo-over toy said receiving member, Vsaid receiving. member posi- .,.tioned above; saidplatform 'and adapted; to Yplace A,"thecreceived cover onto. the fopenmouth of said .can, a powerloperated` shaft rotatablyattached to Y:zsaidframev adjacentlsaid exit openingpanec- Vv centriccamattached to. said shaft, another shaft patta-cned. toi'sa'idiframe, Vvanda lever and aposi- :,tioneriattached .to said last mentioned vshaft-said leverpositionedy tolbe contacted by said eccentric form adapted to support a can in upright posin tion, a track attached to and within said frame, said track sloping downwardly through said exit opening, a power operated chain operable on said track, a rack attached to said frame, said chain adapted to carry a cover for the can on the platform in horizontal position and to deliver kthe cover to said rack, said rack positioned above said platform and adapted to place the received cover onto the open mouth of said can, and a positioner movably attached to said frame above said rack, said positioner adapted to contact the cover after it has been placed by said rack on the cam to move said positioner from time to time to contact the cover after it has been placed by said receiving member on the can and to press the cover into sealing engagement with the can.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame having an exit opening, a platform attached-to said frame beyond said exit opening, said platform adapted to support a can in upright position, ,a rod pivotally attached to said frame and having a horizontal portion extending across said exit opening, a spring attached on one end to said frame and on the other end to said horizontal portion of said rod, said horizontal portion adapted to be swung by a can passing to said platform through the exit opening, a movable member attached to and within said frame and extending through said exit opening, a receiving member at the outer end of said movable member, said movable member adapted to carry a cover for the can on the platform in horizontal position and to deliver the cover to said receiving member, said receiving member positioned above said platform and adapted to place the received cover onto the open mouth of said can, a power operated shaft rotatably attached to said frame adjacent said exit opening, an eccentric cam attached to said shaft, a second shaft attached to said frame, a lever and a positioner attached to said last mentioned shaft, said lever positioned to be contacted by said eccentric cam to move said positioner from time toV time so that it will fall to contact the cover after it has been placed by said receiving member on the can and to press the cover into sealing engagement with the can, a stop member on said second shaft, and a stop member on said rod, said spring attached to said rod adapted upon the can being removed from the platform and from contact with said horizontal member to pull said rod so that the stop member on the rod engages the stop member on the second shaft and to hold the lever on the second shaft out of engaging position with the can.

5. A conveyor for receiving, carrying and discharging a can and its cover in substantial simultaneity comprising a frame, said frame having an entrance and an exit, a lower level support and an upper level support, said supports attached to and within said frame, a lower movable member on said lower level support and an upper movable member on said upper level support, said lower movable member adapted to receive and carry a can, can operated cover receiving means comprismg stop means on said upper movable member adapted to prevent the passage of a cover, lever means on said lower movable member, a connection between said lever means and said stop means, said lever means movable upon contact therewith by a can to move said stop member through said connection to permit the cover to pass on said upper movable member, resilient means connected to said connection adapted to return said stop means to normal upright position upon said lever member being released from contact with the can, a platform attached to said frame beyond the exit and the lower movable member, said platform adapted to receive the can, a rack attached to said frame above said platform, said rack adapted to receive the cover from the upper movable member, can operated cover discharging means comprising a positioner assemblage swingably attached to said frame and normally positioned above said rack to prevent the discharge of a cover therefrom after the can 20 has passed through the exit, a lever included in said positioner assemblage, Yan eccentric. cam rotatably attached to said frame above said positioner, and a rod rotatably attached to said a can passing through said exit to said platform being adapted to disengage its stop portion from the stop portion of said positioner and to permit said cam to engage said lever and movefthe positioner above the frame and permit a cover in the frame to pass onto a Waiting can onthe platform,

Asaid positioner adapted to fall upon the cover and press the cover into sealing engagement with the can. t

WILLARD S. CAMPBELL. 

